196 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, 1882. 



their fniit, timber, or juices. The jak is valuable for 

 fruit and still more so for timber, but it puts on a 

 dense umbrageous head. It would, therefore, if adopted, 

 require free and frequent pruning. The foliage so 

 removed would make excellent fodder for animals. We 

 suspect, however, tliat the jak would leave but little 

 nub-iment in the soil for the plants in its immediate 

 neighbourhood. The erythrinai and the edbizzia moltir- 

 cana used for shade in Java, and the various Indian 

 figs preferred in Southern India are of little for tim- 

 ber or otlierwise than as shade trees, unless indeed 

 ficiLS elastica is one of the figs adopted by our friends 

 over the way ? If that and other rubber-yielding trees 

 could be grown amongst the coffee, whether for shade 

 or shelter, a double benefit would be gained. Some 

 rubber-yielding trees grow at liigh altitudes ; some at 

 low elevations only; while some have a wide range. 

 So that the right sorts could be chosen with refer- 

 ence to altitude, heat and moisture. On our hill estates 

 in Ceylon tree-growing for shelter and drauiage pur- 

 poses has largely extended of late years, the fast-grow- 

 ing Australian trees, especially the blue gum, the black 

 wattle, and grevUka rohmta being preferred. But many 

 other trees, and amongst them those yielding caou 

 tchouc could be added with advantage. We should 

 like to have the views of local correspondents on the 

 most recent experience of tree planting in connection 

 with coffee cultivation. 



SEEDS FROM SOUTH AMERICA. 

 A planter, who is expecting seeds from South Amer- 

 ica, writes : — 



Regarding the different seeds soon to arrive from 

 South me rica : they have been procured principally 

 ir Bolivia from the districts of " La Paz" and " Jacua." 

 The Calisaya morada is from the former dis- 

 trict (whence Ledger's eeed came), and I need not 

 add that it is the variety yielding the most valu- 

 able baik known. I am told that two only are 

 thought worth cultivating (corroborating what has 

 been eaid aa to this elsewhere), the other doubtless 

 beinc C. verde. Phis seed has been procured from 

 an unquestionably reliable source, the sender having 

 him-elf been IS years resident, and both privately 

 and in business intimately acquainted with many of 

 the principal landowners and merchants throughout 

 the country. He writes that it is only as an "im- 

 mense favor " that this cinchona seed has been sup- 

 plied, and it is further stated to be "A 1". 



As for the other seeds, the description Markham gives 

 oE the dilTereut plants and their various good qual- 

 ities induced me to write for them, now more than 

 a year ago. But from all accounts, the world still 

 moves slowly in South America, and the late war has 

 interferad. 



The " Maiz Blanc," the best of several varieties the 

 Incas are said in olden days to have brought 

 to their present perfection (if I remember riglit) 

 by " selection of seed," must be a very grand speci- 

 men of maize, and should prove a success in 

 at least the liiyh portions of Uva, .and possibly in 

 the higher and dryer parts of Dirabula and Dikoya. 

 It may also do well lower down in Uva, but I fear 

 not elsewhere in Ceylon. Peruvian cotton, however, 

 1 believe firmly, will prove an entire success in the 

 dry portions of the lowcouutry. The rich lands about 

 Trmcomalee should suit it to perfection. It is the 

 native of a very dry climate ; the yield is spoken of as 

 being very large, and the quality excellent, and I have 

 every hope of its proving a really valuabh introduction. 

 The luoister districts, at tue lower altitudes, are 

 already superabundantly provided for by many well- 

 proven, highly profitalde cultivations ; and it is for the 



dry portions of the country, though deficient in 

 rainfall, frequently possessing a i^plcndidUi rirh soil, 

 tliat it would eeem to me suitable introductions are 

 still needed, and should now be sought out. 

 Cearii rubber and possibly tobacco are the only 

 cues I have as yet heard as likely to be success- 

 ful without irrigation. Coca ought to do well 

 at the higher elevations here, and I do not see 

 why the natives in the East, as in South America, 

 should not work the better, and preserve a higher 

 staudard of health too, by its use. Whether they 

 can be induced to take to it is another question ; 

 but it would seem to be well worthy of a tvi.il. In 

 South America it has become an absolnlc necessity 

 to millions; and, if this could only be brought to 

 pais amongst th'- lower orders of both Hindus and 

 Chinese, it would not only possibly prove directly 

 beneficial in itself, hut probably tend to lessen a 

 craving for opium and other pernicious (I exclude to- 

 bacco) narcotic^, and for spirits : the consumption 

 would perforce become enormous, and a staple in- 

 dustry established. The Yungas (Incas !) coffee is also 

 from Bolivia, and I gather thst it is there grown 

 very extensively, being (in South America) regarded 

 as the Jinest flavoured of coffees. This I did not write 

 for, and it is evidently sent under an impression 

 that it would be a valuable addition to a coffee- 

 growing country. A small quantity was sent me several 

 years ago, but I was in England at the time, and 

 I do not remember to have h^ard on my return that 

 it had even been sown — probably not. 



CEYLON COCOA TOPPING THE MARKET. 



To the Editor of the Ceylon Observer. 



Colombo, 15th July 1882. 

 Dear Sir, — The following extract from the report 

 of the London brokers who sold the parcel of ' ' Amba " 

 cocoa, shipped by us per S. S. " Orion, " will probably 

 be of public interest. — Y^ours faithfully, 



SABONADIERE & Co. 

 {Extract from Brol\er^s Report on 72 Bays Cocoa 2>^rS, 

 S. " Orion " from Colombo.) 



We have nothing new to remark as regards tliis ship- 

 ment. The prices are exceptionally good, the cocoa is of 

 exceptionally fine quality, and the competition was gen- 

 eral and good. We believe it is generally wise to let 

 well alone, and we can only hope that your cocoa may 

 continue to come of similar good quality, and that the 

 buyers may continue to give us not less than recent 

 prices: — 



Amba Bags 20 @ 118s per cw+. 



A. . „ 27 „ 120 



B. • „ 20 „ 114 „ 

 T. „ 5 „ 70s 6d. „ 



72 bags 



You will see that, while the bulk realized 120s, the 

 average of all round was over 114sjufr cwt., which reflects 

 gre.at credit on the care bestowed throughout in cur- 

 ing. — (True extract.) 8. &Co. 



[We are glad to le.arn that there is now a nice parcel 

 of 114 cwt. of the same mark of cocoa at the wharf 

 waiting shipment per S. S. "Quetta." — Ed.] 



CEYLON COMPANY LIMITED i-RICPORT. 



DiEECTOES : — Gi orge Suart Simpson, Esq., Chairman, 

 Charles Joseph I'.iaine, Esq., Major-General Chri»topher 

 Palmer Bigby, Patrick Francis Rohertsou, Esq., Christopher 

 Barker Smith, Es.i., Richard Ottaway- Turner, Esq. 



Report : To be presented at the twentieth annual meet- 

 ing, to be held at the Cauuon Street Hotel, in the city 

 of London, at 2 ji. ra., on the 27th June, 1882. 



l._The Directois have to report that the coffee crop 

 from the Company's own e.'it.atps in Ceylon, 1881-82, which 

 they have lately been realizing, turned out iu quantity 



